The Villa Curse Of Scottish Managers?

He had a wonderful playing career, and has had considerable success in the early stages of his managerial career.

However at Villa he is fighting for both his and Villa's survival. He is also fighting the curse of Scottish managers in Villa's recent history.

Whilst Aston Villa's very formation was very strongly influenced by those from north of the border, in the last 50 years, the record of Scottish managers is nothing short of catastrophic.

The figures don't lie.

Welsh managers 199 games - 88 wins - 44.2%.

English managers 1810 games - 748 wins - 41.3%.

Irish managers 321 games - 127 wins - 39.6%

Continental managers 85 games - 30 wins - 35.3%

Scottish managers 159 games - 41 wins - 25.8%

Four different managers contributed to this abysmal win percentage, Docherty, McNeil, McLeish, and Lambert. All rubbish of course, but I can't help wishing we had appointed an Englishman. Saw Peter Withe at the game on Wednesday???

My own view is that Lambert is the right man. However he has not experienced managing an unsuccessful team before. He is on a severe learning curve himself, hence the many mistakes he is making. I believe he will come through this an even better manager, and if he stays Villa will benefit.

Sadly, I suspect he will not get the time he needs and it will be another club that reaps the benefit of his Villa experience.

Villawillriseagain. I am not suggesting Scots do not make good managers, but the last 4 appointed at Villa have all failed. Docherty would go on to manage Manure for 5 years win an FA Cup, and have a win% of 46.9%. He was awful at Villa though, and I speak as one who was there.

Funny you should say that 2big. I can remenber ( as a kid) the ball comming into the crowd beside me and Docherty screaming at Harry Burrows as he collected the ball and he (Harry) gave me a big wink. I didn't sleep for a few days after with exitement ( sad). What is our most recent successfull Scotsman ( McAllister ) doing these days , any chance of him comming back and giving us a dig out . If nothing else he could probably get into our midfield :-).

2big4seatswannastand -- You seem to indicate in your piece that even yu know the Scottishness of the gaffers has nothing to do with their success or failure and it doesn't. One could argue that every Villa manager since Ron Saunders/Tony Barton has failed given the size of the club. Debating whether foreign/Scottish/English managers is the issue is the sign of a fanbase that is losing the plot. Why not ask a Fortune Teller to pick the next boss. After Brazil lost the 1950 World Cup they were terrified for decades of having a black goalkeeper. Is that rational thinking? Many people have noted that Macallister did a good job when Houllier was ill. If Steve Clarke or Moyes were available would you be talking about the 'Curse of the Scottish manager' then. Maybe you think I'm taking it all too seriously but if Villa want to be a global club then maybe the fans -- some of them -- should stop paying too much attention to where the owners/gaffers come from.

As for Docherty he probably had more success at Man Utd because it is a far better run club than Villa and for the most part has been for decades. The issue at villa has never really been the fans or the managers but the owners. I don't think you're an anti-Scots bigot fella, I really don't. But debates about where personel come from are really irrelevant in 2013 and detract from the bigger picture.